2004 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,408 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 75 involved a crash and 16 involved a fire. 105 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, glass, side/rearDec 11, 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
Campaign 07E104000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,408 reports, newest first.
Power train, Apr 21, 2008
OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUCCUMB TO AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION AFTER WARRANTED FACTORY REPAIR FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT WHILE DRIVING AND BASICALLY LEAVES YOU COASTING WITHOUT SPEED CONTROL DURING A REGULAR SHIFT INTERVAL. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Apr 15, 2008
MY 2004 BACK REAR WINDOW PANEL CRACKED- DEFECTIVE PANEL FROM FORD, APPROX EVERY FORD EXPLORER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT RECALL AS A MFG DEFECT YOU CAN FIND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS ON ALL FORD EXPLORERS 2002 TO 2005. *TR
Structure, Apr 14, 2008
PAINT ON TOP OF HOOD BUBBLING AT TWO SPOTS ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND ALSO ON NUMEROUS LOCATIONS ON UNDER SIDE EDGE ON FRONT OF HOOD, A LARGE PAINT BLISTER ON UNDERSIDE AT HOOD LATCH AND SEVERAL PAINT BLISTERS ON BACK UNDER SIDE OF HOOD BY DRIVER WINDSHIELD. *TR
Structure, Apr 10, 2008
A CRACK APPEARED ABOVE AND BELOW THE FORD EMBLEM ON THE BACK FLIP UP WINDOW AT APPROX 50,000 MILES. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 6, 2008
INTERIOR TONNEAU COVER RELEASE, MECHANICAL INTERIOR RELEASE DOSE NOT WORK CREATING A DEATH TRAP FOR ANY ONE WHO SHOULD FIND THEM SELF TRAPPED INSIDE ,YOUNG OR OLD. *TR
Structure, Apr 5, 2008
OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER TAILGATE BACK PANEL WITH THE FORD EMBLEM CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ON THIS PANEL RIGHT NEXT TO THE EMBLEM. KNOW IDEA HOW IT HAPPENED BUT WE SEE MOST OF THE EXPLORERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. CHEAP MATERIALS BY FORD TO CUT COSTS TO MAKE A PROFIT. *TR.UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ
Vehicle speed control, Apr 3, 2008, fire
PARKED CAR OUTSIDE GARAGE @ 23:00 HOURS. APPROX. 01:15 AM NEIGHBORS WERE BANGING ON OUR WINDOWS TO WAKE US UP SAYING OUR CAR AND HOUSE WERE ON FIRE. *TR
Structure, Apr 3, 2008
PAINT PEELING FROM VEHICLE. *TR
Structure, Mar 27, 2008
2004 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. REAR LIFT GATE CRACKS WITHOUT CAUSE. RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE EARLY 2000 WITH NO CORRECTIVE RESOLUTION BY FORD. WHAT HAPPENS IF THESE PIECES FALL OFF DURING INITIAL CRACKS WITHOUT DRIVE AWARENESS AND INJUIRES SOMEONE OR PROPERTY? I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS KNOWN ERROR BEFORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR AND NOTIFY CUSTOMERS THE CHANCES OF THIS OCCURRING IS HIGH. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 25, 2008
MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS SEVERAL ISSUES SINCE 38,000 MILES, THE RECENT COMPLAINT AT 57,000 MILES IS THE ABS MODULE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND AT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL STOP WORKING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT. THEY TRIED TO RESET THE COMPUTER. ADVISED ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ACS MODULE FOR THE ABS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO TRY AND GET THE MODULE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE BEST FORD WOULD DO IS TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE MODULE WITH ME, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR TO INSTALL. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH THE MODULE COST. WAS TOLD 1160.00. THIS WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY WOULD TRY TO FIND A USED MODULE. I CALLED BACK AFTER SEVERAL DAYS AND WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT FIND ONE. THE NEXT DAY I GOT ON THE PHONE AND WITHIN 20 MINS HAD FOUND A MODULE AT A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THEY WOULD PURCHASE THE USED MODULE WITH THE MONEY FORD WAS GOING TO PROVIDE WITH THE NEW MODULE TO FIX IT. THEY SAID NO. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE THAT MANY OF THE 2004 EXPLORERS HAVE ABS AND POWERTRAIN ISSUES, YET THEY FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE. NOW I CAN TELL A DIFFERENCE IN MY BRAKING. SOMETIMES NOW WHEN I HAVE TO USE THE BRAKES, I CAN FEEL SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. I AM WORRIED THAT WHEN I WILL NEED THE ABS TO WORK I WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO STOP. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO TELL ME IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS RELATED TO THE ABS MODULE. THEY NEVER CHECK THE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM AND WAS NOT AWARE OF IT TILL I HAD CALLED THEM BACK ON THE USED ABS MODULE. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THESE MAJOR ISSUES WITH THESE EXPLORERS....POOR PARTS INSTALLED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURING. FORD SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR
Power train, Mar 18, 2008
IN FEB. 2004 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW EXPLORER. ABOUT 6 MONTHS INTO OWNERSHIP THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH A DELAY IN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, WHICH THE DEALER DID REPLACE. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOOK THE EXPLORER BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE SAME PART AGAIN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE SO I WAS FORCED TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 2006 TO THE DEALER. THEY PROCEED TO TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED, TWICE. THIS TIME THEY TELL ME MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. WELL IT SEEMS TO ME IF IT WAS REPAIRED CORRECTLY THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME THEN IT WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR. I WOULD DRIVE MY TRUCK LOCALLY AND IT NORMALLY WOULD NOT WANT TO MOVE. ONE DAY ON MY LUNCH HOUR, I TRIED TO CROSS A MAJOR 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND THIS 2004 FORD EXPLORER, LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS LUNCH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TO BE T-BONED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. TALK ABOUT, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS; I WAS SO UPSET THAT I HAD TO GO HOME FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. IT IS JUST AS SCARY TO THINK MY TRUCK WOULD BREAK DOWN DUE TO MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS WITH MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK. THIS HAPPENED SO OFTEN AND MOST TIMES AT NIGHT. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID COST ME $550.00 AT 80K MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL 100K BUT THE DEALER SUGGESTED IT DUE TO MY MANY PROBLEMS. I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I JUST WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE MY TRUCK HAS SAT AT THE DEALER SINCE DEC 2007, I CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS. IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST FORD FOR FAULT TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Mar 12, 2008
ON FRIDAY THE 7TH OF MARCH 2008 I WENT TO OPEN THE TAILGATE OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE HINGES BROKE AND THE GATE FELL OFF. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT THE HINGES WERE ON A RECALL. THE COLLISION CENTER OF THE DEALER PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. WHEN I GOT TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT I HAD A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS INDEED NOT ON THE RECALL AND THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ON THE 2002 AND 2003 MODELS. I FELT THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED ON THE 04 MODELS AS THEY STATED BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL HAPPENING. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER BODY SHOP THAT WAS QUITE REPUTABLE AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT A CONSIDERABLE LOWER RATE PER LABOR HOUR. WHY WOULD THE HINGES JUST BREAK; SUPPOSED MY GRAND CHILD HAD GONE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK, HE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT WHEN THAT GATE FELL. I FEEL THAT FORD HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM OF THE FAULTY TAIL GATE HINGES BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO THE 2004 MODELS OR AT LEAST NOT ALL WERE REPLACED WITH THE UPDATED ONES. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, BUT I FEEL THAT IF YOU HAVE A PARTS PROBLEM ON A GRAND SCALE SOME MAY HAVE BEEN PUT ON OTHER CARS WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED ON A SPECIFIC VIN. I THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS THERE MAYBE MORE TRUCKS OUT THERE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OR CAN HAPPEN TO. *TR
Structure, Mar 10, 2008
I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH PEELING PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD'S HOME OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR MECHANISM TO REPAIR THE DEFECT EXPIRED AFTER 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH OR EXPOSED ENOUGH TO THE ELEMENTS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR
Power train, Mar 7, 2008
PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER NEW AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SOON AFTER PURCHASE. NOT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE PROPERLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BACK TO DEALERSHIP. RECEIVED TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE RECALL AND TOOK VEHICLE BACK AGAIN. ABOUT 5,000 MILES AFTER ADDITIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WORSENED. SOLENOID REPLACE AT 20,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 35,000 WITH OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS REPLACED. NOW AT 59,000 MILES OF USE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY GONE AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Mar 7, 2008
I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH 57,000 THAT STARTED STALLING WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 3 MONTH AGO. IT SHUTS OFF LIKE SOMEONE TURNED THE KEY. THE OCCURRENCE IS VERY RANDOM AND THERE IS NEVER ANYTHING COMMON BETWEEN OCCURRENCES EXCEPT IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM BRAKING. IT'S AS IF IT'S RUNNING OUT OF GAS. IT TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES EACH TIME BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. ALL 4 TIMES, EVEN THOUGH IT DIED LIKE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO RESTART IT AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WOULD START LIKE NORMAL. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN DONE: FUEL FILTER REPLACED, MAF SENSOR CLEANED AND THE IAC VALVE INSPECTED. THE SERVICE SHOP WHERE IT IS TAKEN SAYS THERE IS NEVER AN ERROR CODE IN THE SYSTEM WHEN I BRING IT IN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION. *TR
Power train, Mar 6, 2008
MY VEHICLE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE WILL HESITATE THEN ENGAGE APPROX. 30 SEC. LATER AS IF REARENDED. WHEN I AM IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATE MY 04 EXPLORER XLT WILL HESITATE THEN ENGAGED. *TR
Power train, Mar 5, 2008
I JUST PURCHASED A USED FORD EXPLORER XLT FROM A DEALER AND TOOK FOR TEST DRIVE SEEMED OK PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE NEXT DAY UPON DRIVING THAT THE TRANSMISSION GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE TOOK A FEW SECONDS BEFORE CLUNCKING INTO GEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT MY GARAGE I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC WHICH HE CHANGED OUT MY FLUID ADDING THE ADDITIVE THAT HE NEW WAS REQUIRED HE OWNS A TRANS SHOP AND IS VERY REPUTABLE HE STATED ABOUT THE RECALL ALSO HE CHECKED MY DIFFERENTIALS IN FRONT AND REAR AND NOTICED REAR WAS ALL FULL OF SILVER SHAVINGS WE CHANGED OUT FLUIDS ALSO BUT THE SHIFTING AND VIBRATING STILL IS OCCURRING I DID PURCHASE A FULL WARRANTY AND AFTER READING ALL THE NEGATIVE PRESS ON THIS SITE I HOPE THE PURCHASE OF A FORD VEHICLE AND WARRANTY WAS WORTH THE MONEY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 5, 2008
I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER, PURCHASED IN AUGUST. THE TRUCK SAT FOR 16 MONTHS WHILE I WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ. WHILE DRIVING ON A 3 HOUR TRIP, I HEARD A METALLIC "CLATTER" NOISE FROM MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE "#2 WRIST PIN" HAD FAILED., REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. TOTAL COST WOULD BE $5500. THIS SEEMED EXCESSIVE FOR SUCH A YOUNG VEHICLE, CONSIDERING THAT IS WAS DRIVEN INFREQUENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR, AND MOST OF THE MILEAGE WAS HIGHWAY. MILEAGE AT FAILURE: 55,300. *TR
Power train, Mar 4, 2008
SINCE OWNING THE CAR, IT HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IT WILL SUDDENLY LURCH BACKWARDS. CAUSING THE CAR TO MOMENTARILY LOOSE CONTROL. IT IS A CONCERN WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, AND COULD POTENTIALITY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND A FEW GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 3, 2008
PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN JUNE 2005. IN 2006 HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR. IN MAY 2007, HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME O2 SENSOR. NOW IN JANUARY 2008, WAS DRIVING AND TRUCK JUST STOPPED ON A HILL WITH TRAFFIC COMING UP, LARGE DIESEL TRUCK, ALMOST CAUSING AN REALLY BAD ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AND THE EXACT SAME 02 SENSOR IS OUT FOR THE 3RD TIME AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF 2004 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THIS BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN TWO DIFFERENT STATES. CONTACTED FORD AND WAS PRETTY BLOWN OFF AND STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE I HAD AN OUTSIDE WARRANTY AND NOT A FORD WARRANTY. THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONTACT THE DEALERSHIPS AFTER CLAIMING TO HAVE DONE A INVESTIGATION. WAS TOLD I JUST HAD TO PAY AGAIN. NOW WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN AND I'M NOT SO LUCKY THAT A BIG DIESEL TRUCK CAN WHIP INTO THE OTHER LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME. *TR
Structure, Feb 25, 2008
NOTICED THAT THE BACK PANEL OF TAILGATE IS CRACKED ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2008. THE CRACK RUNS FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO THE FORD EMBLEM AND THE CONTINUES TO THE HANDLE OF THE TAILGATE. THE CRACK IS OPEN, AND I HAVE CUT MY FINGER ON IT WHEN CLOSING THE TAILGATE. I'M TRYING TO CLOSE IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE TO PUT YOUR HAND TO CLOSE THE TAILGATE BECAUSE THE CRACK COMES DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE HANDLE. I AM AFRAID THAT THE PANEL WILL FALL COMPLETELY OFF OR THE REAR GLASS WILL DISLODGE AND FALL OUT. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK TO DETERMINE HOW TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2008, crash
HI! MY 2004 FOR EXPLORER HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR OVER 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE DEALER DOING LITTLE TO SATISFY ME OR ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO A POINT THAT IT HAS BECOME A PUBLIC HAZARD TO DRIVE. IT SEEMS TO JUMP IN AND OUT OF GEAR AS IT WISHES WITH A CLUNKING SOUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS PAST WEEK AFTER BEING ADVISED TO DO SO WHEN I CALLED FORD'S 1-800 NUMBER AND THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CATCH IS THAT MY SUV IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AT ONLY 46K MILES. BEAR IN MIND THEY FAILED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE IN THE PAST. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. MANY COMMENTS FROM OTHER DISGRUNTLED OWNERS MAY BE FOUND AT: HTTP://WWW.OFFROADEXCHANGE.COM/MODFORUMS/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=26.NEW EVIDENTLY THE PROBLEM GOES AS FAR BACK AS PRODUCTION OF 2004 FORD EXPLORERS. FORD IS FAILING TO OWN UP TO THIS. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE ACTION SO THAT THIS ISSUE MAY BE DEEMED PART OF A RECALL. THESE VEHICLES ARE POSING A PUBLIC THREAT AND FORD IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Structure, Feb 21, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOAD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN 1/8 INCH WIDE AND 6 INCH LONG CRACK IN THE CENTER BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE DUE TO THE CRACK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,551. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ THE TOP PORTION OF THE HATCH HAS SHIFTED. UPDATED 05/06/08
Power train, Feb 19, 2008
DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING SUV REAR AXLE GRINDS CHATTER. *TR
Structure, Feb 16, 2008
THE BACK PANEL OF THE CAR UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW HAS DEVELOPED A 4 INCH VERTICAL CRACK OVERNIGHT. THE HATCH HAS NOT BEEN OPEN OR CLOSED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND HAS NOT BEEN BUMPED OR HIT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. *TR